【Abstract】〓Objective〓To study the safety and clinical benefits of the advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) patients who underwent palliative surgery after tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment. Methods〓We evaluated the safety and outcomes in a single institution series of advanced GIST patients from January 2002 to December 2008. Patients were categorized into two groups based on whether underwent surgical resection. Results〓156 patients had been recruited in this study, including 87 patients underwent surgical resection and 69 patients kept on TKIs treatment. There was no difference in the clinicopathological features between two groups, and 4 patients had surgical complications. Median follow-up was 23.7 months. The OS and PFS of the patients in surgical group were longer than the non-surgical group, PFS: 46.1 months vs 33.8 months (P<0.01), OS: 54.8 months vs 40.4 months and the 2 years progression-free disease rate was 89.7% vs 85.5%,P<0.01,respectively. Conclusion〓Patients with advanced GISTs have prolonged overall survival after debulking procedures. Surgery for patients with metastatic GIST who have responsive disease after TKIs treatment should be considered.
